Ekwueme: We’ve lost a stabilising force, urbane politician ―Aregbesola

GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, on Monday, described the demise of former Vice President, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, as the end of an era for one of the finest politicians the nation has produced.

In a statement signed by his media adviser, Mr Sola Fasure, Aregbesola said “Ekwueme’s exit is a big blow to the nation, which wounds will linger for a very long time. Until his death, the former Vice President served the country in the highest capacity with such untiring gusto uncommon among politicians of his age bracket.”

The statement reads, “Ekwueme was one of the architects of the democracy we now enjoy, being a prominent member of a group of 38 elders who stood firmly to confront military dictatorship and demanded the exit of the soldiers from the government.”

“The deceased politician believed in the oneness of the country and exhibited the coolest of temperament never expected of a politician during the power struggle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when the nation returned to democratic rule in 1999.”

“The death of Dr Alex Ekwueme is a huge loss to the country.  The former Vice President was a sound academic and politician who stood for the highest ideal in politics. A complete gentleman, urbane, well-read, temperate and good-natured politician, Dr Ekwueme would never play politics of bitterness.”

“He cherished and preferred dialogue to politics of do-or-die. This he exhibited almost to a fault in the ensuring power struggles to select the presidential candidate in his party in 1999 and 2003. He was a politician with a large heart and spirit of sportsmanship. He would never rock the boat of his party but would rather forego his ambition in order to have peace.”

“Dr Ekwueme was also a team player. His working relationship with President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic was a clear testimony to this. He was a stabilising force of uncommon hue, which was always ready to mend fences with anyone willing to associate with him. It is this same conciliatory approach he employed in all his political dealings and to the nation’s problems as well. His wealth of experience and erudition in social and political affairs and participation will certainly be missed by the entire country,” the statement added.